The Maine Coon cat descends from the earliest American Breed of domestic cats. The genes of the Maine Coon were used to strengthen the Persian Breed in the U.S. 

The Maine Coon is a large, healthy, powerful active cat that always makes its presence felt. Indeed, the maine coon is one of the largest of all domestic cats with its muscular, broad-chested body which is actually longer than other long-haired cats. This cat's ears are large, well-tufted and wide at the base. Its dense, heavy coat has both a lustrous shine and a shaggy appearance.  You can find the Maine Coon in many colors and patterns, except for color-pointed.

The Maine Coon cat personality can be described as a 'gentle giant' possessing a loving nature with calm expressions. The sound of the Maine Coon is like a soft, little chirping noise that it utters periodically throughout the day. This is a patient cat that can be very good with children.  One interesting oddity about the Maine Coon cat is that it won't hesitate to go into the water if it thinks there is a reward in it. This cat also has a tendency to pick up food with its front paws.